A member of the Azerbaijani national taekwondo team, Ziya Hasanli (63 kg), won Azerbaijan’s first gold medal at the 3rd CIS Games. This achievement marked a significant milestone for Azerbaijani taekwondo.
After his victory, Ziya Hasanli shared his emotions:
“I trained long and hard for these Games to become a champion, and I’m happy that I achieved my goal. The final fight was especially tough, but I managed to win. It’s a wonderful feeling to be the first in our history to win a CIS Games gold medal in taekwondo.”
On his way to the gold, Hasanli fought three matches, each requiring full commitment. The final bout was the most challenging — but also the one that secured his historic win.
“I faced three opponents. Of course, the last fight was the hardest. But I was ready for it, and I’m glad I succeeded,” said Ziya.
Now, Ziya Hasanli has set his sights even higher:
“My next goal is to become an Olympic champion,” he said.
